Will Cornwall Ontario City Council Subsidize Vanity University Scheme? Are the Mayor & Councilor MacDonald in Conflict?

Steering CommitteeCFN –  We now officially know the names of the 30 member steering committee asking Cornwall & the Counties for $75K to do a feasibility study that the province requested before considering to support a university in Cornwall Ontario.  I wrote about this last week and about why I thought it was nuts for this group to ask taxpayers to float their vanity project.   LINK

Gerry & gailWhat we seem to have is a group of politicians trying to grab some glory before the next elections.  Most on this list do not have University degrees nor have many shown much support in their community for efforts that are made to help grow and evolve.

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For example, what jobs will a university grad in Cornwall attain?   We have students graduating from St. Lawrence College not able to attain jobs in Cornwall for example right now.   Will a more costly University degree help?

Over one third of this group live off the back of the taxpayer already, either sucking up a tax payer job or pension.    There are only a few people with actual expertise and they are politically dependent on others on this list.

Where are the real people that could possibly help a project or show why  it could or couldn’t work.

Last night Mr. Benson & the Kaneb’s came to council.   They did not have a plan.  They did not have a goal other than asking for money for a feasibility study and this after one year of meetings and back room discussions.    Does this make sense to anyone?

Is it worth $1.25 per resident of Cornwall; that vast majority of would have about as much use for a university than they do for the Benson Centre?     If Mr. Benson and his other group of friends are accurate and Cornwall is over taxed how does asking for money to float this boat (and Mr. Kaneb joked about coming back for more after) help the tax burden?

Councilor Thibault did his Monty Hall impression suggesting that Akwesasne should cough up some cash and that they and the counties be true partners if cash was to be spent.

And there is the shadow of Conflict of Interest.

Kilger

Surely with Mayor Kilger and Councilor MacDonald on the Steering committee, the one that’s asking the City for, CASH, ie, monetary gain, they should have both recuse themselves from any possible influence on the subject and discussion?   After all they are members of a committee asking money of council?  A council they both sit on and get to vote on normally?  Surely they should have followed Councilor David Murphy’s step of declaring himself in conflict because of his employment with the Benson Organization?

Today you can go to University online for free.  That’s right free.

University of the People  – Tuition Free –  Want to take classes at Harvard for free?  Yale?

You see most of the people in this committee are used to living from the labours of the public.  If this austere group really wants to give to the community surely they can each find $2,500 to donate to the cause?

Youth retention and good jobs are critical to this community.  Education is driving our youth away.    But we need some of these people to get with the status quo and stop being afraid of our more modern ways.

Support local business because that will create good jobs for our young people that have potential for growth.   Work with and help local initiatives grow.   Government can’t solve problems, but they can support and aid the solutions from people the create them.

Sadly council embraced this not hot mess of a presentation, and seem to be racing to write a cheque.  After all a provincial election may be around the corner and there are less than 720 days to the next municipal election.

This voter however is noting who is supporting this mess and who has some back bone and is actually representing the tax payer as this committee surely doesn’t seem to be.

OF course if this process ever became legitimate and there was a real plan with a real need presented to the public surely an actual public meeting with feedback from the residents of Cornwall would make more sense?   Trends in education, besides online, are clearly visible with a minute amount of research.

Process is everything.   Politicians are accountable only if we the public hold them accountable for the way they spend money.   I personally find it ironic that this group of mostly seniors are bankrupting the future generation who have to pay off this debt by doing so in their names!   Am I the only one that finds that odd?

Cornwallites do you think that the Mayor and Councilor MacDonald should impact this vote while being on the committee?

You can post your comments below.

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107 Comments

  1. I see that St. Lawrence College Dean Don Fairweather is on the list as well. I wonder if he is looking for another job. Does this mean the future of St. Lawrence College is in jeopardy?

  2. I was wondering the same thing Reg

  3. These people, anything for attention. Should both the Mayor and MacDonald not be investigated over conflict of issues? At what point does our self serving Mayor and his side kicks say enough?

    Holy Gilles Latour/Bob Peters….People, the only way this BS will change is next election, let’s not make the same mistakes again or we will get what we deserve?

  4. Here’s (to me) the main question asked by the Minister:
    WHAT IS CORNWALL’s POST INDUSTRIAL PLAN?

    Well, what is it?

  5. Other than call centres, transport companies, meat packing, distribution centres, storage facilities and Walmart, there is no post industrial plan. It’s whatever we can grab and hopefully keep.

    There’s nothing here for university grads. And university grads aren’t the most entrepreneurial lot.

  6. Let’s not forget that even our RNs can’t get jobs unless they speak French.

  7. Its looking like another chunck of money is going down the drain.I personally think its time to add these big projects to the ballots and let the people who vote have a say.The ballots will certainly steer these projects in the right direction.I might even support this project it certainly would of saved my family and relatives about 100″000.00 or more in living expences if they could of lived at home while attending university.That being said/ where is this city going to get the money they cry poor year after year at budget time.

  8. just looking at the poll in the standard freeholder.65% of people say the city should pay for this study.LOL and cornwall freenews poll says 84% of people say no the city should not pay.

  9. Author

    That’s a very good question Jimmy. So far the only real buzz has been tourism. But when you have an outfit like Seaway Tourism we’re doomed.

  10. As we speak, look east. The Globe and Mail has reported that Montreal’s major universities – led by McGill – are going to pool resources so they can attract international students in order to survive into the future.

    Right now, the numbers of high school students in Canada is dropping. This group of students is the bulk of the upcoming university population…universities will need big bucks to compete for them, and lots of international political and business connections.

    Cornwall COULD make a good place to have a campus of a major university or universities, but not a university of its own. We won’t be able to fill seats…even online seats. At least that’s my belief.

  11. Red Lobster won’t even set up shop in Cornwall, On.This is the most asinine idea for Cornwall’s growth & development to date .

    Has anyone investigated the high school drop out rate???

    So many questions so little answers, so let’s cough up more $ that no one has. Please give me a friggin break.

    On a side note, this idea seems to have a French flare. The presenters are insinuating Cornwall is bilingual, really…population 46,000-36,000 are English.So where exactly are these students coming from-Quebec???? Is Cornwall destined to be the next Hawksbury????

    The USA is looking better very day for myself & family…

  12. I am a firm believer in higher education. Cornwall already has an awesome college. Everyone with a computer also has access to online university courses. The way I see it this city is in no position financially(and other ways) to support a university! You have got to be kidding me.
    #1. Get senseless speeding under control
    #2. Get your community hospital in proper order
    #3. Stop discrimination when in comes to hiring practices and
    Health clinic services. French before anyone else.
    #4. Putting up fancy buildings that taxpayers can’t afford isn’t
    going to cover up the bad rep that this city has.
    #5. Mr. Benson, Mr. Kilger and crew, you want to waste money
    then waste your own NOT taxpayers.
    TIME FOR THE CITIZENS TO HAVE A SAY!!!

  13. Author

    Well Sick hopefully we see more people at the next council and hospital board meetings….

  14. Darn autocorrect
    “#1. Stop senseless SPENDING”

  15. we need to get these folks to find homes for the seniors in need of long term care beds. they seem to have an ability to get immediate attention and anwers to their projects. FYI young people leave cornwall because they have no future here post grad. very strict on the job posting requirements they say.

  16. Citizens are apathetic and burnt out here. I do firmly believe we will see a HUGE turnover to a much better mayor and council next time around. Hoping Andre will be back…most of the rest can go elsewhere where their “secret” plans and publically uninformed decisions can do less damage!

  17. So the price for feasibility study has already went up? It was $50,000. Now they are asking for $75,500.

  18. Author

    Kathy they are asking Cornwall for $55K and the Counties for $20K

  19. That’s it! Let’s put all of our resources into an idea that makes absolutely no sense for Cornwall. That way the people might forget about the huge elderly population that is continually increasing and housing issues that CCH has coldly dismissed.

    Hey wait! I’ve got an excellent idea! We can teach all of the seniors in town to speak French, send them to the new French university and they can live in the dorms!!!!!!

    Gotta give your head a shake…….

  20. Author

    If we had actual leadership in this community there would be a public discussion. There would be public meetings; not dark meetings in hotel lobbies by a close private group.

    This shouldn’t be Skull & Bones. This should be something that the WHOLE community gets behind and something all can benefit from.

    If Cornwall is to ever change and grow it has to change how things are done. Some of the issues Cornwall is facing is because of many of those on that committee and how they work.

    It’s that simple, and it’s time for people to stand up and lead.

  21. It’s clear where it is heading:

    Bilingual community is a big selling point in our favour”.
    “We have a franco community , native community, agricultural community…what are the needs and how we fill them…find a unique program that we can support “.

    They will transform St Lawrence college and River Institute into a bilingual (lip service), eventually French-only university”: “…build on existing infrastructure…St Lawrence college recently renovated, River Institute, and Nav Canada with 70 state of the art classrooms”.

  22. Yes we need new leadership, fresh faces, new ideas. Most importantly leadership that is honest and involves the citizens in decisions about our community.

    The current bunch could learn a lot by the way South Stormont works with their constituents. Kudos to Bryan McGillis and team!

    Never too late to try Cornwall Council.

  23. I would like to know how many of those that do not support this project have a University Degree, grade 12 or less.

    Also how many of them are also working for low wages and not satisfied.

    I do not have a degree but I support a University.

    Cornwall needs to grow, our kids need a way to have affordable post secondary education and do the people not think that having better educated kids will not help this city to grow, prosper and help to bring more higher paying jobs here and thus help in keeping them here??

    Do they not realize what dollars a University would bring to housing, the econmy?

    Do you not think I wouldn’t like to have my kids in Cornwall??

    Don’t ask why they moved, just listen to this committee and the answers are in what they are trying to accomplish.

    A UNIVERSITY

    I commend the members of this committee in helping to work towards helping our kids.

    Personally, head bashing is not my way, and kicking Mr. Benson, and the Kaneb’s and all the other committee members between the legs is not fair for all they have done and continue to do in this city that is ‘TRYING TO GROW BUT AFTEN STALLS” because of negativity.

    Let’s move on

  24. It has been many attempts in the past to have a university in Cornwall, all failed for obvious reasons. So why now? Apparently, as the esteemed presenters told us, it’s McGuinty’s election promise that there would be 4 new universities in Ontario. The esteemed presenters kept quiet on that McGuinty also promised not to incur budget deficit, but, alas, now Ontario is in the $15 billions hole. Oh ya, silly me, that’s to fulfill his more important promise – to have 4 new third rate universities in cornfields.

  25. Author

    Roland speaking for myself I have nothing against anything that really helps our community, and in many ways a well thought out school of higher learning can help our community.

    First off this group has failed by working in the shadows for over a year. They should have brought this openly to the public and built up some public support. Imagine having a room full of students last night instead of the usual suspects?

    Their presentation had nothing about what their goal or project is. IE; a medical school, an environmental facility, a French or Bilingual University; nada.

    The make up of the group is simply all the local elected officials and cliquesters. This community is more than those people. And something as important as a University should show that diversity.

    Mr. Lumley is involved with the University in Windsor; I believe helping raise millions and getting his name on something. I have a hunch he was consulted too.

    Again, are these grads going to have jobs here in the region or simply be exports?

    There are legitimate questions that should be asked. I simply think this group should have came to the table and announced their gift of the $75K to fund the feasibility study instead of asking for hands outs.

    And any council that writes a cheque for a penny without a proper plan in front of them should be impeached and tossed out of office. What if it wasn’t a committee without the mayor on it? What if I showed up with an idea for a Trades school with no data? You don’t write cheques from public funds because you like people or golf with them.

    Do you? Would you Roland?

  26. Don’t you think that perhaps on ocasion some people from the business community Gerry Benson, Tom Kaneb, Rick Emon, Angie Baker, Bill Mc Gimpsy

    Educators like Nicole Mills, Jim Brownell, Elaine MacDonald or
    Don Fairweather are in this for themselves. I THINK NOT !

    Come on, they are doing this collectively and in earnest to help this city grow andif we need a study and it is for the betterment
    of the residents then let the taxpayer pay.

    They are the one’s who benefit.

    Better educated kids should be looking toward having a future of good paying jobs WHY NOT.

    Should this proceed to fruition do you not think Economic development would not pick up on this as another project?

    Sorry but, previously I mentioned about kicking people between the legs. Well you’ve done it again with the following insult.

    “The make up of the group is simply all the local elected officials and cliquesters.”

    Get positive and get with it my friend, being negative will insults in a public domain will certainly not help this city in progressing.

    We could go on with rebutles but let’s just say–

    END OF CONVERSATION…….

    Take care and be positive and not so critical on issues that may be important

    Regards

  27. A recent study identifies that success come to those who fight hardest for it. By this I mean to say that when a student is provided with a ‘gift’ of tuition as opposed to providing it themselves, they will invariably fitter their education away…messing around, buying a car, not caring as much as if he/she paid the price of hard preparations.

    That being said wouldn’t our ‘good’ men and women on the University search comity have a far better drive for success if they provided their own funds? Perhaps that is too much to ask of such giving people and I mean that sincerely, with much respect.

    Perhaps the analogy here doesn’t hold water with some. Mr. Besner is right; the bottom lime is a quality University of Cornwall. The untold story is what kind, what language (s) and what value would a degree from this University provide for future successors.

    I recall that Trent University was started in the boondocks of Lakefield, Ontario near Peterborough. Some would have preferred a University of Peterborough but those who saw the ‘vision’ in the boon docks had it right.

    With all this yam, we hope and pray these fine initiators have it right.

  28. Without exception, once the negatives are flagged, the positives far accentuate such a need.

    Despite the rhetoric this is one of the best drives for raising the stature of our city there has been in years.

    When suggesting that the stake holders referenced via the comity shown above, we ultimately need to get off our own duffs and get behind them.

    One sure way to show that ‘we’ as a city have something to get a hold of, something to be proud of something for our own children and grand children can look forward to with prided, then by all means, we should show our council and this comity our support.

    Sure we have reason to doubt. We have some anger over the hospital scenario with hiring practices and the sale of Cornwall General Hospital…….but for gods sake, lets get our heads out of our ass’s and do something positive for a change…

    If these start up funds can be out of a non taxed account…..go for this one.

  29. Author

    Roland the foundation you build when you create something is the test of its mettle.

    These people have not started out right. There’s an odd way that things are done around here that does not breed success.

    Until people change how they behave the results will never be what they could be. Akin to two chefs having the same ingredients, but getting vastly different results.

    Don’t you think that if this group had gone public, had consultations and taken feedback and was constituted with more diversity and with more community support we’d have a better foundation?

    There are far too many politicians in this group. Far too many “retired” people. If this project is on the board as a Legacy project it’s very different than if it’s about the needs of the community. During the last municipal election there was one candidate pushing for a Uni. As much I think he’s a lowly toe rag why wasn’t he part of this community? Where have the quotes or words of support for a University been by so many on this austere group?

    I’m not suggesting that the exploration of having a university in Cornwall is bad. I’m stating that the way this group has gone about it is faulty and corrupt. That the reasons why are not pure or based on what’s best for the people of Cornwall who this group; some of who are sucking back multiple pensions, are asking the tax payers to pay for.

    That would be you Roland, and me, and most of those locally who read this.

    And that’s wrong. This group should scratch the cheque for the $75K. This group should be helping to build this city; but this clique needs to start working with the community and not working just with those in their little club.

  30. I would feel more comfortable about the group if it had even demonstrated a modicum of research already conducted. There are plenty of reports available on the Internet that talk about demographics and other issues facing our established universities. And they could conduct interviews with people in-the-know; university employees, professors of economics, such as Professor Foot, author of Boom Bust and Echo.

    Perhaps the group has done some research but it should have been part of the presentation.

    It would also be helpful to know which members of the group ARE university educated.

    Moreover, the statement that Mr. Kaneb threw out there about Cornwall having “turned a corner in the past 10 years” sticks out like a sore thumb. What does that statement mean? And why is it relevant to the context of this discussion?

    Before I, as a taxpayer, would support the funding of a feasibility study, I’d want to know/see evidence that the group has done its homework. Otherwise, the consultants will happily line up and take their fees to conduct research that will PROBABLY come back saying: NOT FEASIBLE.

  31. from Maclean’s magazine: Well-known Canadian economist and demographer David Foot has said that he expects university enrollment to start falling off between two and four years from now. And these new numbers suggest that his prediction is probably on the mark. Given the 2001-02 peak, we should see the number of high school graduates start to decline in 2014.

    hope OUR ILLUSTRIOUS GROUP can READ?

  32. Author

    Sadly where was this group 25 years ago or so? Mayor Kilger was MP – MP Lauzon was shutting down Canada Manpower offices in Cornwall…. this group has the blood of failure on its hands and is now trying to shine their names before the grim reaper visits many.

    Again, with some of them triple dipping into the public purse if they really want to “GIVE” to this community they should scratch the cheque for their venture.

  33. Author

    Another thing; if this University is to be French or Bilingual one shouldn’t our high schools (other than French ones) be turning out kids who can speak French to the proficiency levels these politicians and bureaucrats are demanding?

  34. Yes, Jamie. And there are global issues.

    This from Prof. Ian Diamond, Economic and Social Research Council

    …reports on ground-breaking research with multinational corporations around the world which suggests
    that policy-makers have yet to appreciate the fundamental shifts which are now taking place in the way companies use skilled people. Large firms are increasingly aware that emerging economies, especially but not exclusively India and China, are building up their education systems at a rapid rate. Leading corporations are abandoning the idea that high-end activities such as research and design have to go on in the high-cost economies of Europe, North America or Japan. Instead, they are developing ways in which high-value work can be standardised, as manual work already has been. Once this is achieved, high-skill people in low-cost countries suddenly become an attractive option for multinationals.
    This means that we may be entering an era in which many of the young people now investing heavily in their education across the developed world may struggle to attain the comfortable jobs and careers to which they aspire. They risk being bypassed by decisions to send work that would once have come their way naturally to people in Asia and elsewhere, who bring the same skills to employers at much lower prices….

  35. Our community needs to recognize the value of entrepreneurship, a true engine of the local economy. CFN is a good example. But what does it get? It gets stomped on, ignored, and bullied.

  36. @ Roland. Questioning the $75 thousand handout for a feasibility study is not anti-progress. And neither is it pessimistic. But there is a difference between a dream and a fantasy. The group needs to demonstrate that it is “knowledge based” BEFORE it takes the City (its taxpayers) on this ride.

    Watch the video. Everyone’s kow-towing to the elites. OK fine. But where’s the beef? Had non-elites walked in with the same request for money, they’d be told to take a hike; to hold a bake sale and raise the money.

    The elites – if they’re convinced their dream is realizable – should demonstrate they’re not risk averse and write the cheque.

  37. Author

    Jimmy that’s another example and fodder for a whole other story. Almost 100% of this group boycotts CFN. St. Lawrence College refuses to send us Journalism interns and does not advertise or post notices with us; never has actually, perhaps because Mr. Fitzpatrick’s poison on the board spread. Our MP, MPP, MPP Crack, nada. The City of Cornwall’s boycott and intimidation of clients is very clear to the point that it looks like they will not be supporting our 100 Letters about How Amazing Cornwall is promotion. (EVEN TO DATE REFUSING TO PUT THE LINK TO THE EVENT ON THE CITY’S FACEBOOK PAGE) The Kaneb’s businesses, Benson’s, Mr. McGimpsey, not a single ad ever. Is it because of Business reasons? Nope. You have one of the largest independent online newspaper in all of Canada with over 40,000 unique visitors per month and nearly 2 million page views and most of this group is trying to run us out of town. Is this how you grow a community? Are these the people we want at the mantle of any potential University in Cornwall? During the presentation much was made of the condition of Cornwall and our brand. Surely most of this group are responsible for that or simply were derelict under their watches. Again, it’s time for many to look in the mirror and decide what they want for their community. CFN is the canary in Cornwall’s Coal mine and frankly there are days we’re coughing up way too much coal dust….And it’s time for them to write the cheque for the full $75K – after all it is a tax write off for all of them as opposed to dumping onto the city’s tax load. Even as councilor Rivette suggested, if it came out of Economic Developments budget then there’d be $55K less of development spending that department could make.

  38. Author

    This is starting to look like a repeat of the Benson Centre where those that wanted it didn’t even step up with 10% of the cost and now Cornwall has this heavy expense for the life of the building at the expense of other capital projects…

  39. Yes, Jamie.

    Not only, but for anyone who thinks the comments made on CFN are negative, including any City people who may pop in to check out CFN what the rabble rousers are saying, imagine this is reality show. But instead of a glad hander dressed up in Halloween costume and seated on his throne, you have a hard ass like Donald Trump sitting in the cheap seats among the attendees.

    So at the end of discussion, Trump asks: How did you pick the members of the steering committee? What are their qualifications?

    The elites: Well….they’re friends.

    Trump: Hmmmmm, well my experience with “friends” they’ll gladly show up at meetings, but they’ll keep their ideas to themselves to serve the pack’s hierarchy.

    The elites: Uhhhhh, well, but we trust them.

    Trump: Yeah, that’s all very nice. People, we’re talking money here. What research have you done , and would Ms. K please stand up and tell me what she knows about the knowledge based economy?

    Ms. K: Well, it’s people like doctors, I think. Educated professionals now that manufacturing has all but disappeared.

    Trump: Has any of you done your homework? Look, my patience is wearing thin. I’m not here to make charitable donations. I’m here to talk about the size of the opportunity foreseen. Money. The local economy. What do you think the feasibility study will conclude, and why?

    Silence.

    Trump: Well thank you ladies and gentlemen. NEXT!!

  40. I find it interesting to see how the more things change the more they remain the same. As a reporter I recall covering a big announcement in the 80’s where a satellite campus would be set up by the U of O at St. Lawrence College. Over the years, there was less and less talk about it and it apparently died out after a time.
    When I had occasion to look into the matter I was told by the powers that be that there were not enough people using the satellite university and it was not feasible to operate in Cornwall.
    End of story.
    Now there is group that wants to do the same thing all over again, this time at a cost to taxpayers, and the result is bound to be the same. Cornwall needs more people graduating from high school. Spending thousands on a study for a wish that has already been tried makes no sense at all. Find a way to bring jobs to the city that require a university education and the pay, then you would have my support.

  41. I,m off subject a little bit.But i would love to no why when you apply to a universite and they have no openings they don,t give you back your money.I,t cost my daughter 1150.00 in applying fee,s to go to university.How many more students get ripped off this way?

  42. Jamie/ you certainly have put the bigshots who seem to think they own this city on their toe,s.Good work and goodluck.

  43. Pray tell what difference would a “feasibility study” make ? When the council of the day ordered a study regarding the feasibility of a pedestrian mall on Pitt Street they disagreed with the findings of the report so again at taxpayers expense ordered another study to be done . The second report supported the position of the first which suggested an 80% chance of failure ( documentation can be viewed at the Cornwall Public Library ) . Result, the council proclaimed that the authors of the reports were not really capable and proceeded to spend copious amounts of taxpayers money on a project doomed before it commenced only to spend further copious amounts reversing the process a short time later . Let the provincial government follow the guidelines of selecting the next community to host a university and while the taxpayers money is being spend accomplishing this goal let our city’s powers that be vocalize this community’s desire to be on the selection short list .

  44. I read the story in the Freeholder, and I have to say, though I am not a fan of profanity that busted the bubble.

    I am a College Graduate myself, even though you may find my writing a little poor at times. My strengths are in problem solving for efficiency of industrial processes and mathematics. No not a process engineer omg never….

    They already have a study completed showing 2% of the people living in Cornwall are graduates of university education, where do they all work?

    It is a lousy statistic out of 46,000 people only 92 have gone on to higher learning but understandable considering how the city was run for so many years. Keep people uneducated, give them just enough to make them able to work, and keep them confused.

    I have met a few graduates over my travels and contracts, 4 in Montreal, 3 Sarnia, 2 in Kingston, 6 in Alberta not counting trades, and well 8 of us in the greater Toronto area, leaving about 67 people.
    How many are retired, how many work at Wal-mart? I know of two of them in Wal Mart situations only due to lack of industrial and or professional businesses and the managements lack of ethics and fear of smarter people found in most of the existing local industry.

    Now consider how many schools we have in the immediate area and how many teachers are working in them. To be a teacher you need a university education followed by one year of teachers college.
    What about nurses? And of course Helen and her bosom buddy Despatie.

    That alone must account for more then 2% of the population?

  45. Here is something to consider, Mayor Rob Ford, Mayor Bob Kilger…same mold but no form

  46. the lack of a proper proposal was not an oversight. first clue being a comment in the standard freeholder. highly specialized university likened to computer education at waterloo. the opportunity to tap into tax dollars at multiple levels of government. has any one else reached the same conclusion as i have? personally, i am undecided about the venture in general but dislike the percieved deception. totally agree with jamie on this one.

  47. Hailey, you forgot the “0”, should be 920, but i understand your comment.

    “It is a lousy statistic out of 46,000 people only 92”

  48. Highly specialized university? The Francophones are on the way to save the day.

    It is time to take action!
    Postsecondary education is a priority in French

    Ottawa, January 21, 2013: The Assembly of Ontario Francophonie supports the recommendations issued by the Committee of Experts on post-secondary education in French in the Central and South-western Ontario. Greater access to postsecondary education in French is necessary for the economic success of our province and the development of a bilingual workforce and highly skilled.

    “We do not want to wait, we must act and take action. Francophone population of Central and South-West is growing and it needs to be better served. The retention rate of our students in these areas is a concern. Only 2% of our graduates were enrolled in college in French. Must be able to offer more choice in postsecondary education in French to remain competitive and ensure the vitality of our francophone community, “said the President of the Assembly of the Ontario Francophonie, Denis Vaillancourt.

    The recommendations of the Committee of Experts line up with those issued in the summer of 2012 by the French Language Services Commissioner of Ontario, François Boileau. The OFA believes now proceed to the next step and put actions to achieve concrete results in the near future. We welcome the recommendation to establish a secretariat that would have the ability to negotiate with postsecondary institutions and advise the government. We also welcome the recommendation to create a French-language college, university or institution dual vocations, which must be autonomous and managed by the Francophone community in the region.

    The AFO also wants to recognize the outstanding work of La Cité, Glendon College and Collège Boréal especially, who make continuous efforts to serve the people of Central South West. “We must continue to support postsecondary programs existing French-language. We have already acquired, it must be inspired and continue to grow, “says Denis Vaillancourt.

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